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December 2023 by Siddhartha Rabindran
This was the first time we travelled with our newborn baby. Overall experience was awesome. First, at arrival, Karla did a great job of welcoming me and my family. After that, my welcome packet was ready, and the room had a crib which we had requested for. While going in and out of the parking garage, Kathryn and other team members were great. I forgot the name of the other 2 people at the parking garage (one of them had a curly hair and I don't recollect the other person. We had a small issue with kettle, and it was resolved pretty quickly. Breakfast got over a bit early, but it was not a big concern as we are not breakfast people :). So, I will call this a top experience and my family was extremely happy with the experience.
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December 2023 by Billie Weddington
Firstly, the hotel in and of itself is quite beautiful. Stunning rooms, fabulous design.My concern comes in with the “resort fee/destination fee”. This is certainly not just a Sonesta issue (search this on Washington Post, it’s a widely known issue, one that many Attorney Generals are currently suing large hotel chains for), but it is still quite frustrating. Destination fees are simply a way to collect a higher room rate, without guests knowing they’re paying a higher room rate at the time of booking. In teeny tiny grey print, it states there is a destination fee of $25 per night, not included in the quoted total. This is something to keep in mind. Your price will be an additional $25/night than you were quoted. Also, for Royal Sonesta Portland, you will pay $52/night for parking. So be sure to consider that whatever great price you think you’ve found is at a minimum, $77 more per night than what is advertised. This destination fee will say that it comes with benefits… the only real tangible benefit being the $2 bottled water upon check in. I do appreciate front desk staff being honest that it was simply a way to scam guests into booking thinking they were paying less. Other than the one front desk person being honest regarding this fee, I would say generally the staff was a bit on the rude side.The worst however was the hostess/waitress at the onsite restaurant. She was extremely rude. I have a service animal- a diabetic alert dog. She firstly tried to state he couldn’t come in, when I explained he is a service animal (and yes he had a clearly marked vest that she could see), she rolled her eyes and then asked the bartender if that was okay. Of course he looked at her like she was ridiculous for asking; as most people know that service animals are protected by federal law. She was then generally rude the rest of our dinner visit. She clearly was annoyed that she was having to work (the restaurant was otherwise empty, and she was focused on flirting with the bartender, and our presence was obviously a distraction from that). Generally I do not leave negative reviews, I would just skip it all together, but the blatant ableism was pretty gross. Overall, I would not stay here again. Especially considering that the area is flanked by people openly using hard drugs every where when you leave the front door. Just not worth the obscene fees, or rude staff.Rooms: Rooms were lovely, maximalist eclectic design.Safety: Flanked by people openly using hard drugs as soon as you exit the front doors.Walkability: Very walkable area.Food & drinks: Mentioned in review, onsite restaurant is a no, however there are decent food choices in walking distance.Noteworthy details: There is a $25/night destination fee and $52/night parking charge that will *not* be reflected in the total price you are quoted. Be sure to add $77/night to the price to know what you will actually pay.
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December 2023 by Jackie Avila
Came for my wedding anniversary and for this being a “4 Star Hotel” it’s very much giving motel vibes. Our heater was stuck at 71 degrees with it being 35 degree weather outside. We had to ask for our room to be cleaned before we left for the day because housekeeping isn’t a thing, and came back to the room not being touched. Trash wasn’t taken out and towels hadn’t been replaced. Pretty upset with our experience here. Won’t be booking again nor recommending this place. Aside from the bad service and their broiler being down, the building itself is nice. The rooms are spacious and decorated well. But still not worth it.
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November 2023 by Jacob Wittler
Comfortable beds in clean rooms. Housekeeping actually cleaned the room during our stay. You don't see that very often anymore. There are outlets by the beds. The hotel is only a couple of blocks from the train stop, so it's pretty convenient. It was about a 45 minute ride from the airport. The attached restaurant was good as well.
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November 2023 by Ren C
TLDR: This place is amazing!Though I live in Portland, I needed a room in Downtown for an event. I can definitely say that this hotel is so very Portland. I knew I was going to love it from the second I walked into that lobby. In terms of feel and decor, it is so lively, whimsical, colorful, artsy, and just plain beautiful. It’s the kind of hotel you might find in a Wes Anderson movie. Moreover, every member of the staff was extremely helpful and friendly. Front desk, bartender, and valets were all a complete pleasure to interact with. The room itself was immaculate, beautifully decorated, and had a great view of the city. If you have a car, their parking structure has a gate and is attended to the entire time. And yes, you can go in and out as you please. I can’t recommend this place enough. I can’t wait for an excuse to need a room in downtown just so I can stay here again. Oh, and it’s within walking distance from so many great places! Love this place.
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November 2023 by Chassidy Trahan
Visited the beautiful stay of Oregon from Mississippi a year ago. I stayed here at the Royal Sonesta and my stay was beautiful to say the least. The restaurant in house has some of the best salmon I’ve ever had, and the drinks are amazing. The parking garage is an amazing feature, it ensures safety to and from the hotel!Rooms: Beautiful rooms, luxurious beds, spacious, amazing bathrooms.Safety: There is security at the front door as well as at the garage door entrance to the parking garage.Food & drinks: The restaurant in house in amazing, they have a Brooklyn style pizza restaurant near by with the best vegetarian pizza you’ll ever have.
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October 2023 by J Edgecomb
I got married in Portland in February and I reserved a block of rooms at this hotel for our guests. The staff was incredibly responsive and helpful and the rooms were whimsical, romantic and clean. The whole atmosphere of the hotel embodied the quirky, eclectic, and vibrant feel of Portland and I was so excited to have my guests, some of whom traveled from all over the US and Europe, to stay here.While I have not heard a single complaint about the hotel itself, unfortunately the location is right in an area of Portland known as the "fentanyl mall." Multiple family members and friends came up to me to tell me that when they came back to the hotel from the wedding or bars, there were people actively smoking and injecting drugs right in front of the hotel and across the street. Due to the decriminalization of drugs in Portland, there was nothing police or staff could do to stop this. My friends and family told me they did not feel safe walking to the hotel after the wedding due to the erratic behavior of people on the street. Had I known that this area of the city was known for its drug trafficking, I would have not chosen this hotel for my elderly relatives and most of my guests. It is so unfortunate because the hotel itself is wonderful but I think it is important to be aware of this aspect when booking and to exercise a level of caution and common sense when walking around at night.
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September 2023 by Mihit Parekh
Had an amazing experience staying at The Royal Sonesta as it felt like staying at heritage, palace kind of charm and status. The staff was super nice and wonderful, especially Chris. Communication amongst them also was flawless. They had great wines at the wine tasting event. The hotel has fantastic ambience and vibes. Memorable experience delivered by The Royal Sonesta. Would love to visit again!
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September 2023 by Lexii Sackett
Hotel was pretty but there’s a LOT of fees that weren’t mentioned on the website. There’s a “destination fee”, 100$ deposit, 52$ a night valet because there’s no parking that’s safe or free for miles. We spent 390$ on 3 nights and got slammed with valet fees, destination fees, a deposit, and some other fee and taxes and paid 700$. The hotels decor was not bad but it was definitely strange. There was homeless people all over the area along with some addicts and my husband and I couldn’t even walk around without being bothered. Considering the area the hotel shouldn’t cost that much. The room didn’t have a microwave which I found odd as most I’ve stayed at do provide them. The staff was very kind and informative though!! Give them a 10/10. The business not so much. Absolutely insane how much they charge on top of your room that you don’t even know about. If you don’t use the valet you have to find a different lot to park over night and chances are your car will be broken into. We won’t come back due to the cost and definitely the area. There is a provided spa and restaurant though that some enjoy, they do give you a 10$ credit for it but it doesn’t do much when the meals are 30-40$ a person. Honestly due to the area and solely the fact that we got slammed with an additional 300$ that wasn’t mentioned before the booking I have to give this a 2 star rating. Everything about it was overpriced. The hotel was pretty in some aspects but was lacking in a few as well.Safety: Not a safe area. A lot of homeless people and addicts in the area that will bother you as you walk outside. The valet is great to keep your car and other valuables safe though.
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September 2023 by L B
We had a great time when we stayed at the Royal Sonesta. This was our first time staying at one and have since stayed at others. The staff were incredibly friendly and welcoming. Even though we had an itinerary we asked for recommendations and we’re very glad we did. They provided excellent recommendations which made our stay even more memorable. The decor is eclectic but is on brand for Portland. The location was perfect for walking around and exploring when we didn’t feel like driving.Walkability: Super walkable but I was glad my partner was with me at night when we were a few streets over.Food & drinks: There are so many great food and drink options nearby that fit with any diet.
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August 2023 by Stephanie Pope
Beautiful hotel and great service. Friendly front desk staff and the valet was the best. The rooms are so unique. The free tea, coffee and snacks were nice.Rooms: Beautifully decorated and plenty of room.Walkability: Lots of good restaurants nearby
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August 2023 by Duy Le Anh
The Royal Sonesta Portland Downtown boasts beautiful rooms adorned with great décor, complemented by attentive and friendly employees. The extravagant lobby creates a pleasant ambiance with inviting scents, adding to the overall charm of the hotel.However, there are some drawbacks worth mentioning. Despite its convenient downtown location near attractions, the presence of homeless camps outside can be unsettling and off-putting.Furthermore, the absence of basic amenities like a microwave and fridge in the room is inconvenient, requiring guests to request them separately. Additionally, inconsistency in the availability of these amenities could be improved.Another point of concern is the resort fee, which some guests might find bothersome. A transparent upfront charge would be preferred to avoid any surprises.Overall, the Royal Sonesta Portland Downtown provides a pleasing experience with its beautiful rooms and excellent décor. However, improvements regarding essential room amenities and the resort fee could enhance the overall guest satisfaction.
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August 2023 by Rachel Laughters
Room we originally got was upgraded to a top floor room. View of the mountains was great as well as the bathroom amenities. Huge mirror that I couldn't help but take a selfish with. Lol staff was so nice. If you are driving be prepared to pay a fee to park your car in their underground garage. They have a valet.Food & drinks: There is a restaurant in the hotel. It was closed when we went but they offered plenty of other options to choose from.
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July 2023 by Simone Gianfrancesco
We stayed here for the two nights surrounding our wedding and absolutely loved the style, amenities and service from the RS team (especially Carla!). The room service options were fantastic and they provided us with a whole list of gluten-free local eats for my wife who has an allergy. The rooms were stunningly beautiful and the hotel is in a fun part of town, and very easy to get to. Thanks for making our special stay so memorable!
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June 2023 by Elizabeth Patrick WA-DES MOINES
The stay was great and so was the food. The room was a king suite, and it was nice. The bed was not bad, the pillows could of been a bit more comfy. The Valet parking was great and reasonable for pricing. But overall the stay was great! Would recommend and would stay there again. Thumbs up!
